Abstract: There are provided a lens guide device, a lens moving device, and an imaging apparatus that can accurately position a lens frame regardless of an attitude, such as an imaging direction. A first-rail supports a first-rolling-body so as to allow the first-rolling-body to be rollable in a first-direction parallel to an optical-axis of a first-focus-lens. A second-rail supports a second-rolling-body so as to allow the second-rolling-body to be rollable in the first-direction. A biasing-mechanism supports the first-rolling-body so as to allow the first-rolling-body to be movable in the first-direction, and biases the first-rolling-body toward the first-rail. A third-rail is provided in parallel with the second-rail. The third-rail supports the second-rolling-body so as to allow the second-rolling-body to be movable in the first-direction. Since the first-rail and the second-rail are moved and guided in a first direction by the first-rolling-body and the second-rolling-body, a lens frame is not inclined.

Abstract: Provided are a lens barrel and an imaging device, with which it is possible to lock an optical member of which the movement in an optical axis direction is made free in a case where there is no electrification, particularly to hold the optical member in a locked state without use of electric power. A movable frame that holds a focus lens is driven in the optical axis direction by a linear motor. In a case where the movable frame is to be locked with the linear motor being not electrified, the movable frame (engagement portion) is caused to abut onto a restriction portion at an end portion of the movable range of the movable frame and a locking ring is caused to rotationally move to a locking position by an electric actuator. Accordingly, the movable frame is fixed by the restriction portion and a locking portion of the locking ring to become unable to move.

Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel capable of improving stop accuracy. A roller support shaft (61) is attached to an outer peripheral portion of a cam cylinder (16). A torque applying roller (102) is rotatably supported by the roller support shaft (61). A biasing ring (104) is fitted to an outer peripheral portion of a second fixed cylinder (12B) and is held to be movable in an axial direction. The biasing ring (104) is biased by a biasing spring (106) and pressed to abut against the torque applying roller (102). In a case where the cam cylinder (16) is rotated, the torque applying roller (102) rolls along the biasing ring (104). A load torque is applied to the rotation of the cam cylinder (16) by frictional force generated between the torque applying roller (102) and the roller support shaft (61) due to the rotation of the torque applying roller (102).

Abstract: A first rail 41 supports a first rolling body 45 so as to allow the first rolling body 45 to be rollable in a first direction parallel to an optical axis of a first focus lens. A second rail 42 supports a second rolling body 46 so as to allow the second rolling body 46 to be rollable in the first direction. The biasing mechanism 47 supports the first rolling body 45 so as to allow the first rolling body 45 to be movable in the first direction, and biases the first rolling body 45 toward the first rail 41. A third rail 43 is provided in parallel with the second rail 42. The third rail 43 supports a second rolling body 46 so as to allow the second rolling body 46 to be movable in the first direction.

Abstract: A yoke of a voice coil motor includes an outer yoke as a magnet holding portion and an inner yoke as a coil insertion portion. A magnet is fixed to the surface of the outer yoke facing the inner yoke. The inner yoke is inserted into a coil. Openings are provided toward both end positions of the outer yoke from a middle position of movement positions of the coil. The openings are formed to pass through the outer yoke. The outer yoke can be made lighter while a necessary thrust is ensured.

Abstract: A yoke of a voice coil motor includes an outer yoke as a magnet holding portion and an inner yoke as a coil insertion portion. A magnet is fixed to the surface of the outer yoke facing the inner yoke. The inner yoke is inserted into a coil. The coil is formed in a trapezoidal shape where an outer wire length as a wire length of an outer long side is shorter than an inner wire length as a wire length of an inner long side. Since the outer long side is made shorter than the inner long side, an opposite thrust caused by current flowing in the outer long side can be reduced. Accordingly, a reduction in the thrust of the coil is suppressed by as much as the reduced opposite thrust.

Abstract: Provided are a lens barrel and an imaging device, with which it is possible to lock an optical member of which the movement in an optical axis direction is made free in a case where there is no electrification, particularly to hold the optical member in a locked state without use of electric power. A movable frame that holds a focus lens is driven in the optical axis direction by a linear motor. In a case where the movable frame is to be locked with the linear motor being not electrified, the movable frame (engagement portion) is caused to abut onto a restriction portion at an end portion of the movable range of the movable frame and a locking ring is caused to rotationally move to a locking position by an electric actuator. Accordingly, the movable frame is fixed by the restriction portion and a locking portion of the locking ring to become unable to move.

Abstract: There are provided a lens guide device, a lens moving device, and an imaging apparatus that can accurately position a lens frame regardless of an attitude, such as an imaging direction. A first-rail supports a first-rolling-body so as to allow the first-rolling-body to be rollable in a first-direction parallel to an optical-axis of a first-focus-lens. A second-rail supports a second-rolling-body so as to allow the second-rolling-body to be rollable in the first-direction. A biasing-mechanism supports the first-rolling-body so as to allow the first-rolling-body to be movable in the first-direction, and biases the first-rolling-body toward the first-rail. A third-rail is provided in parallel with the second-rail. The third-rail supports the second-rolling-body so as to allow the second-rolling-body to be movable in the first-direction. Since the first-rail and the second-rail are moved and guided in a first direction by the first-rolling-body and the second-rolling-body, a lens frame is not inclined.

Abstract: A first rail 41 supports a first rolling body 45 so as to allow the first rolling body 45 to be rollable in a first direction parallel to an optical axis of a first focus lens. A second rail 42 supports a second rolling body 46 so as to allow the second rolling body 46 to be rollable in the first direction. The biasing mechanism 47 supports the first rolling body 45 so as to allow the first rolling body 45 to be movable in the first direction, and biases the first rolling body 45 toward the first rail 41. A third rail 43 is provided in parallel with the second rail 42. The third rail 43 supports a second rolling body 46 so as to allow the second rolling body 46 to be movable in the first direction.

Abstract: A yoke of a voice coil motor includes an outer yoke as a magnet holding portion and an inner yoke as a coil insertion portion. A magnet is fixed to the surface of the outer yoke facing the inner yoke. The inner yoke is inserted into a coil. The coil is formed in a trapezoidal shape where an outer wire length as a wire length of an outer long side is shorter than an inner wire length as a wire length of an inner long side. Since the outer long side is made shorter than the inner long side, an opposite thrust caused by current flowing in the outer long side can be reduced. Accordingly, a reduction in the thrust of the coil is suppressed by as much as the reduced opposite thrust.

Abstract: A yoke of a voice coil motor includes an outer yoke as a magnet holding portion and an inner yoke as a coil insertion portion. A magnet is fixed to the surface of the outer yoke facing the inner yoke. The inner yoke is inserted into a coil. Openings are provided toward both end positions of the outer yoke from a middle position of movement positions of the coil. The openings are formed to pass through the outer yoke. The outer yoke can be made lighter while a necessary thrust is ensured.

Abstract: There is provided a lens barrel that can easily and reliably prevent an erroneous operation at the time of switching of a manual focus mode. A lens barrel body houses an imaging optical system including a focus lens. A focus operation ring rotates integrally with a first connection ring about an optical axis of the imaging optical system. A second connection ring is movable between an engagement position at which the second connection ring is engaged with the first connection ring and a cam ring and a disengagement position at which the second connection ring is not engaged with both of the first connection ring and the cam ring. A switching-operation ring is movable between a rotation-restriction position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the engagement position and a rotation-allowable position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the disengagement position.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a camera body of which a manual focus mode can be easily switched. A lens barrel includes an imaging optical system, a first operation ring, a second operation ring, and first and second sensors. The first sensor detects the rotation of the first operation ring and the rotation angle and the rotational direction of the first operation ring. The second sensor detects the angular position of the second operation ring. The imaging optical system includes a focus lens. A camera body includes a body control unit. The body control unit selectively executes a first manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the rotational direction and the rotation angle detected by the first sensor and a second manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the angular position detected by the second sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a lens barrel that can easily and reliably prevent an erroneous operation at the time of switching of a manual focus mode. A lens barrel body houses an imaging optical system including a focus lens. A focus operation ring rotates integrally with a first connection ring about an optical axis of the imaging optical system. A second connection ring is movable between an engagement position at which the second connection ring is engaged with the first connection ring and a cam ring and a disengagement position at which the second connection ring is not engaged with both of the first connection ring and the cam ring. A switching-operation ring is movable between a rotation-restriction position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the engagement position and a rotation-allowable position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the disengagement position.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a camera body of which a manual focus mode can be easily switched. A lens barrel includes an imaging optical system, a first operation ring, a second operation ring, and first and second sensors. The first sensor detects the rotation of the first operation ring and the rotation angle and the rotational direction of the first operation ring. The second sensor detects the angular position of the second operation ring. The imaging optical system includes a focus lens. A camera body includes a body control unit. The body control unit selectively executes a first manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the rotational direction and the rotation angle detected by the first sensor and a second manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the angular position detected by the second sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lens barrel capable of preventing a reduction in strength while maintaining a small size and a small thickness and an imaging apparatus including the lens barrel. A first moving cylinder in which a cam groove to which a second cam follower pin is fitted is provided in an inner surface is arranged outside a cam cylinder having the second cam follower pin provided on an outer surface thereof. In addition, a third lens group frame in which a cam follower pin fitted to one of the cam grooves is provided on an outer surface and a second lens group frame in which a cam follower pin fitted to the other groove is provided on an outer surface are arranged inside the cam cylinder having the cam grooves provided in the inner surface thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lens barrel capable of preventing a reduction in strength while maintaining a small size and a small thickness and an imaging apparatus including the lens barrel. A first moving cylinder in which a cam groove to which a second cam follower pin is fitted is provided in an inner surface is arranged outside a cam cylinder having the second cam follower pin provided on an outer surface thereof. In addition, a third lens group frame in which a cam follower pin fitted to one of the cam grooves is provided on an outer surface and a second lens group frame in which a cam follower pin fitted to the other groove is provided on an outer surface are arranged inside the cam cylinder having the cam grooves provided in the inner surface thereof.

Abstract: Y-driving section is disposed in X-direction of an image sensor holder, and a slider is arranged for the image sensor holder to come in succession to Z-direction and extend to X-direction, so that X-driving section is disposed at the end of the slider. Regarding Y-direction, Y-driving section directly drives the image sensor holder. Regarding X-direction, X-driving section drives the slider and indirectly drives the image sensor holder in X-direction.

Abstract: A support structure for supporting reflectors on a half rate carriage in an image reader has an angle between a reflecting surface of a second reflector and an optical path from a first reflector of a full rate carriage to the second reflector is greater than 45° and less than 90°, for example about 53°, and an angle between the reflecting surface of the second reflector and a reflector of a third reflector is 90°. Thus, the degree of overlaying of the full rate carriage with the half rate carriage is increased and the image reader is miniaturized.

Abstract: A carriage driving mechanism to prevent the carriage adapted to travel as a predetermined wire is taken up from floating and remaining in such floating position due to an unexpected force exerted on said carriage under a tensile force. A carriage support extending from transversely opposite ends is provided with contact arms extending upward, respectively, to come in contact with a top plate of a housing to restrict the carriage from further floating off. Legs directly placed on guide tracks of the housing to support the carriages on the guide tracks and are formed with oil sumps filled with suitable lubricant such as grease. At least one of the legs is formed to adjust a height of this one leg to level the carriage.